Saturday, October 12, 2013

Fun in Sydney by Margot Justes

There are many things to do in Sydney, and what to do depends
on individual preferences, and time available.I listed my favorite museums in a separate blog, but there are obviously
many other things to see and do.

My daughter went to the top of the Harbor Bridge, the climb
was rigorous and that bridge is mighty high, 440 ft from top to water level. I
viewed it as a three and a half hour tour of terror.

I went to the Westfield Tower instead, took the elevator all
the way up, and got my glimpse of Sydney from above, the easy way. I also took
the off/on bus tour. It’s a good way to get a look at the whole city, you can
get off and on at will, and visit museums, malls, whatever you like at your
leisure.

The walking tours are always a delight. You get to see all
the nooks and crannies, that you might miss if on your own. The Rocks walking
tour was a perfect example. The area became my favorite part of Sydney, steeped
in history with many wonderful old buildings and intricate stone passage ways
in the oldest part of Sydney.

The Royal Botanic Gardens are a must. The gardens border
Sydney Harbor and are next to the Opera House, Art Gallery NSW, and the
Government House. It’s as if all points lead to the gardens. The grounds are
vast and stunning, occasionally you’ll see posted signs ‘please walk on grass’.
If you walk along the coast path, you’ll reach Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair, where
the view of the Opera House is absolutely stunning.

Of course there is shopping, from many art galleries that promote
works of local artists, to souvenir shops that sell Crocodile Dundee hats, the
usual touristy kitsch, to jewelry stores selling all kinds of opals, and high
end jewelry, and everything in between.

The architecture is magnificent, let’s not forget the iconic
Opera House, the Harbor Bridge, Westfield Tower, and of course the QVB-the
Queen Victoria Building-a magnificent structure with colorful glass windows, beautiful
inside and out, and it’s a shopping mall.

The hotel was walking distance to Circular Quay, the
transportation hub that offers ferry rides across Sydney Harbor. It was an easy
ferry ride to Darling Harbor, and Manly Beach. We asked the locals which beach
we should visit-Bondi or Manly-since there was no time to do both, and the
majority said Manly. So Manly it was. Many locals sat on the concrete walkway
and enjoyed the sun. A perfect moment to relax and take a deep breath, and
watch as the birds zoomed-in, hoping to get fed.

I would recommend a travel book, I usually tend to stick
with Frommer’s; the layout is easy to read, and I just tag what interests me. If
you don’t want to tour the city independently, there are many tours available.

I research the hotels on line, and usually pick them based
on location, and easy access to sites, or public transportation. Sometimes I
book through the hotel directly, on line, or I use a travel agent; in some
cases travel agents have a better deal than you can find yourself. I check all
options.

These are the places that I most wanted to see, others I
missed simply because there wasn’t enough time. Do I want to go back and see
more of Australia. Yes, absolutely.

I hope you enjoyed the blogs on Sydney and Cairns as much as
I enjoyed writing them.

Coming soon another set of blogs on Barcelona, and a
Mediterranean Cruise.